Eating Dirt by Charlotte Gill

I truly did not expect to like this book. I picked it up with a sigh, thinking that here I go again, starting another book I probably didn't want to read in the first place.   The story of tree planters held almost no appeal to me. So, I began the first page ready to be disappointed. By the third page I knew I liked the author's writing style. By the tenth page I found myself enjoying the descriptions of Vancouver island and the almost alien landscape the tree planters were traveling through.

Her writing is tangible, the words enveloping me as a reader.   I can feel the dirt under my fingernails, the sweat clinging to the back of my neck.  As I turn the pages I feel like I should be looking around to make eye contact with the people Gill is talking about.

I keep asking myself who would want to do this kind of work? The conditions, the filth,  the isolation, the hours and the alienness of the terrain has it permanently removed it from every conceivable list of  jobs I could ever fathom.

I told myself that I'm not interested in this book it's not a topic I have any interest in. Still, I keep turning the pages and continuing on.  I can see why this book was nominated for an award  - the topic is unique and the writing itself draws the reader into the story.

The drawback for me was the immense amount of information about the history of trees and forestry industry in the book.   At first it felt like it was handed out in bits and peppered through stories, and that was fine as I found it quite interesting.  Yet as the book continued I found myself drowning in the information and details.    As a result it took me almost a full week to read this 250 page book.

The author,Charlotte Gill, has a much different take on this lifestyle than I do. Where I would find the filth, exhaustion and repetition overwhelming and not something that I would want to spend a career doing, never mind a single season, she finds that she has a love for it.

"Some people think planting trees is as boring and crazy making at stuffing envelopes or at climbing a StairMaster. I love my job for exactly the opposite reason because it is so full of things. There are so many living creatures to touch and smell and look at in the field that it's often a little intoxicating. A setting so full of all-enveloping sensation that it just sweeps you up and spirits you anyway like Vegas does to gamblers or Mount Everest to climbers."

Tree planting sounds like one of those jobs you would need to have a calling to.  It sounds as though it may be one of the last frontier style ways of life that can be experienced in today's world.  For me, this book has been interesting and illuminating.  And I am quite happy (and thankful) to leave it to those who have been called.

37. If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't) by Betty White

It-girl Betty White delivers a hilarious, slyly profound take on love, life, celebrity, and everything in between. 

Drawing from a lifetime of lessons learned, seven-time Emmy winner Betty White's wit and wisdom take center stage as she tackles topics like friendship, romantic love, aging, television, fans, love for animals, and the brave new world of celebrity. "If You Ask Me" mixes her thoughtful observations with humorous stories from a seven- decade career in Hollywood. Longtime fans and new fans alike will relish Betty's candid take on everything from her rumored crush on Robert Redford (true) to her beauty regimen ("I have no idea what color my hair is and I never intend to find out") to the Facebook campaign that helped persuade her to host "Saturday Night Live" despite her having declined the hosting job three times already. 


This was a perfect read after the heavily themed books I have been immersed in as of late.  Is it too stalker-ish to say...I LOVE BETTY!!!  I have been a fan of hers since the mid 70's.  Of course, back then she was simply known as the funny lady.  Through the decades she has become THAT funny lady, to Rose and finally to her own self...Ms. Betty White.
I simply adore how she carries herself, strong, unwavering in her beliefs and yet never seems to take life too seriously.  She looks like she enjoys life and the people she finds there. She also expresses her gratitude for the good fortune she has had during her career and for the opportunities this has allowed her to pursue.  Her love of animals and devotion to working with organizations for their protection and care is impressive and admirable. But it is the way that she speaks of her own pets over the years and her descriptions of her personal encounters with animals that tugs at my heartstrings and makes me want to adopt her.

This is a light read that I  finished in two hours. I found Ms. White's style soothing and reassuring.  I hope to have even one quarter of the goodness, understanding and graciousness that she displays.  If you are a fan of Betty White, from any generation, pick up this, or another of her books.  It is like having a conversation with her over tea or while sitting next to her on a plane ride - a momentary gift that will enhance your day.

Favourite quotes from If You Ask Me:

“Animals don’t lie. Animals don’t criticize. If animals have moody days, they handle them better than humans do.”

"Bets, you can lie to anyone in the world and even get away with it, perhaps, but when you are alone and look into your own eyes in the mirror, you can't sidestep the truth. Always be sure you can meet those eyes directly. Otherwise, it's big trouble, my girl."

Betty White is an entertainment icon who has playing starring roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls, and Hot in Cleveland, hosted Saturday Night Live (as the result of a fan-driven Facebook campaign), and spoken out on behalf of animals for many years.